SOMALIA: HOW CAN THEY BELIEVE IN THE ONE OF WHOM THEY HAVE NOT HEARD?

By Gigi Kotze

21/11/2024

Somalia, the easternmost country in Africa on the Horn of Africa, has its capital, Mogadishu, on the Indian Ocean just north of the Equator. The country has an extreme, mostly dry and hot climate. Aside from a mountainous coastal area in the north and some river valleys, most of Somalia is flat, allowing nomads and their livestock to move freely. The Somali people are clan-based Muslims, with about 60% living as nomads or semi-nomads, relying on livestock and some farming.

The current conflict explained

Since January 2009, Somalia has been in an ongoing civil war, mainly in southern and central Somalia. The conflict is predominantly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia, supported by African Union peacekeeping troops, and al-Shabaab militants, who pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda in 2012.

Here is a timeline of key events that have shaped Somalia’s journey to the present day:

1991 – Start of Civil War

The Somali Civil War began after the government collapsed, and President Siad Barre was overthrown and forced into exile in Nigeria.
Somalia fell into anarchy, with different clans and warlords fighting for control, leading to the civil war.

1992 – UN Intervention

The United Nations sent peacekeeping troops to deliver aid and attempt to bring an end to the ongoing fighting.
The situation remained unstable, and the UN eventually withdrew in 1995 after suffering losses.

1993 – Battle of Mogadishu

The UN and US forces clashed with local militias in Mogadishu (the capital), leading to heavy casualties.
This event is famously known as “Black Hawk Down.” The mission eventually ended in failure.

2000 – Transitional Government Attempts

The first Transitional National Government (TNG) was formed with international support at the Somalia National Peace Conference in Arta, Djibouti, but it failed to gain full control.

2004 – Transitional Federal Government (TFG)

The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) was formed with the support of international groups, aiming to create stability in Somalia and in October, the parliament elected Abdullah Yusuf Ahmed as interim president for a five-year period.

2006 – Rise of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU)

The Islamic Courts Union, a coalition of Islamist groups, gained control of Mogadishu and parts of southern Somalia.
They brought temporary order but imposed strict Islamic law.

2007 – Ethiopian Intervention and Start of AMISOM

Ethiopia sent troops to help the TFG push back the ICU.
The African Union launched the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to support the TFG, and fight extremist groups, and deploy peacekeeping forces.

2009 – Al-Shabaab Gains Power

After the ICU was defeated, a faction called al-Shabaab emerged as a powerful extremist group.
The Somali Civil War then entered a new phase, with the Somali government and AMISOM fighting al-Shabaab, which sought to control Somalia under strict Sharia law.
Fighting between al-Shabaab and government forces, backed by AMISOM, became intense.

2012 – Federal Government of Somalia Established

A new government, the Federal Government of Somalia, was formed with a president and parliament.
Al-Shabaab pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, intensifying the conflict.

2020-2023 – Severe Drought and Ongoing Conflict

Somalia faced its longest drought on record, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Al-Shabaab continued its attacks, but Somali and AU forces gradually reclaimed some areas.

2022 – AMISOM Transitions to ATMIS

AMISOM changed to ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) and focused on handing over security control to Somali forces.

Present Day – Ongoing Conflict

The Somali government, supported by ATMIS and other allies, continues to fight al-Shabaab.
Somalia continues to face challenges like food insecurity, poverty, and the impact of floods and droughts, which add to the difficulties.

The reality on the ground

Civilians suffer the most because of these conflicts, with around 3.8 million people forced to leave their homes within Somalia. Approximately 3.1 million people in Somalia require assistance from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), including over 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from Ethiopia and Yemen. Around 3.4 million people in Somalia are facing severe food shortages, and over 70% of Somalis live below the poverty line, making it easier for extremism to take root. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that heavy rains and floods during the Gu rainy season (April–June) affected 268,000 people and damaged resources essential for livelihoods. Many families are still struggling to recover from the 2020–2023 drought—the longest in Somalia’s history—which nearly led to famine.

Somalia has a population of 18,643,000, with Islam as the dominant religion, comprising 98.6% of the population. According to the Joshua Project, Christianity represents just 1.3%, and Evangelicals account for 0.84%. Somalia is ranked 2nd on the Open Doors World Watch List for countries where Christians face the most persecution, having moved up from 3rd place in 2023, now just behind North Korea.

Somalia is a strategic focus for mission work, as the overwhelming majority of its population remains unreached with the Gospel. With 20 out of 22 people groups (90.9%) having little to no access to the Good News of Jesus, the country represents one of the world’s most significant mission fields—the need for the Gospel is immense. Somalia is in desperate need of prayer and intercession from the global Body of Christ due to the extreme persecution Christians face, with Open Doors reporting that the dangers of being a believer there are severe.

Al-Shabaab enforces a strict form of Sharia law and aims to eliminate Christianity from Somalia. The 2012 Constitution declares Islam as the state religion, placing Sharia law above all else and banning the spread of other religions. Most Somali Christians are converts from Islam and are viewed as a threat to Somali culture, making them high-value targets for al-Shabaab. A ministry friend shared, “Since Somalis are expected to be Muslim and consider Islam to be the true religion, it is very hard for individuals to step out of line, and society has a hard time coping with such people. The number of Somali Christians is growing, as is the number of Somali atheists. The dissatisfaction with Islam makes people disillusioned and looking for alternatives…”

Church life in Somalia is non-existent, and in recent years, the dangers have worsened as Islamic militants intensify their hunt for Christian leaders. Any attempts to establish or re-open churches have faced fierce resistance. Christians live in constant danger, often in isolation, with no opportunity for church gatherings or public worship. This hostile environment calls for the global Body of Christ to unite in prayer for protection, strength, and courage for believers in Somalia. Prayer is essential not only for their safety but also for the growth of the underground Body of believers and the softening of hearts, both among the unreached and within militant groups.

The friend also shared, “From my understanding, the nomads are the most open to the Gospel message because they have not yet been deeply influenced by radical Islamic teachings and their anti-Christian polemics. Most urban Somalis have been trained in what Christians supposedly believe and how to counter them, and many are so convinced by what they’ve been taught that they won’t even attempt to listen to a Christian. Instead, they will immediately argue or even fight with a Somali who wants to share the Gospel. To avoid a potentially violent attack, Somali believers will only share the Gospel after extensive questioning… It usually takes years for a Somali to change their allegiance to Jesus.”

He also shared the story of a friend who was a Christian, highly educated, and a founder of the liberation movement. Despite his faith in Jesus, he held a high position in society and government because he displayed qualities valued in Somali culture: boldness and fearlessness, eloquence, wealth and generosity, and fairness in resolving disputes. These traits earned him respect from clan leaders and many others. However, this angered radical Muslims, who plotted against him. Tragically, they eventually succeeded in poisoning him, which was a significant loss for Somali believers and other Christians. He had been a strong supporter of imprisoned Christians and helped many secure their release.

Somalia may be a challenging place for believers, but we serve the God of the impossible—the One who promised that every nation, tribe, and tongue will be represented in heaven, including the Somali (Revelation 7:9). Despite the immense persecution faced by Somali Christians, we must hold onto hope and trust in God’s power to transform lives. The need for the Gospel is urgent, with millions still unreached and living in fear. As we pray for the protection, strength, and courage of believers, let us also trust that God can soften the hearts of those who oppose the message of Christ, including radical groups.

God has also scattered Somalis around the world, including in predominantly Christian nations like South Africa, where the Good News of Jesus is readily available. This presents a vital opportunity to witness to them. Reflecting on the question in Romans 10:14, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” we are reminded of our responsibility to share the Gospel faithfully where God has placed us—and to the ends of the earth, including places like Somalia.

Please join us in prayer

Pray for an end to the ongoing civil war in Somalia and for humanitarian aid to reach the millions in Somalia who are suffering from food shortages and displacement—that they may receive the support they need to survive.
Pray for the protection and strength that only comes from above for Somali Christians who face severe persecution, asking God to grant them courage and resilience in their faith.
Pray for the hearts and minds of those in Somalia who oppose the Gospel, including radical groups, that God would soften their hearts and open their eyes to the truth of His love and grace.
Pray for open doors of opportunity to share the Gospel with scattered Somalis in nations like South Africa, that believers will boldly and faithfully witness to them, and that God will prepare their hearts to receive His message.

References:

https://apnews.com/article/somalia-alshabab-attack-mogadishu-216e2525751ebc2c489dce3881d5e9de

https://theowp.org/crisis_index/somali-civil-war/

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/10/15/families-want-justice-blood-money-for-au-peacekeeper-killings-in-somalia

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14094503

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/somalia

https://data.unhcr.org/en/country/som

https://www.opendoors.org.za/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/somalia/

https://operationworld.org/locations/somalia/

https://joshuaproject.net/countries/so

https://www.opendoors.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2-Somalia-Media-Advocacy-Dossier-ODI-2024.pdf

https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/somalia-emergency